Next generation apple breeding
Title: Next generation apple breeding for resilient UK production
Funder: Growing Kent & Medway
Industry partners: WorldWide Fruit Ltd
Term: June 2023 to March 2025
Project leader: Amanda Karlstrom
Most of the modern apple varieties grown in the UK are susceptible to apple scab (caused by Venturia inaequalis), apple powdery mildew (caused by Podosphaera leucotricha) and European apple canker (caused by Neonectria ditissima). All three are fungal diseases which can cause serious yield and quality losses if not adequately controlled and their effective management is time consuming and significantly adds to the production costs. The long-term aim of the industry is to breed apples with resistance to these diseases, which will reduce production costs by avoiding the use of conventional spray control measures. However, breeding is a long-term process and typically takes 20-25 years from crossing to release.
The project
The aim of this project is to develop novel breeding methodologies that will enable a shorter breeding cycle for apple and ensure a faster route to market for resistant varieties. The methodologies will include the use of genomic selection, marker assisted selection and speed breeding. These will be implemented in the Apple Breeding Consortium involving NIAB and industry partner WorldWide Fruits Ltd.